10 Reasons Why The 2025 Toyota Stout Compact Pickup Truck Is Worth The Wait

In 1964, Toyota introduced the Stout to the North American market as the Japanese carmaker’s half-ton representative in the pickup truck segment. However, with only 86 horses from a 1.9-liter, 4-cylinder mill, the Toyota Stout didn’t exactly strike the fancy of the American pickup truck community. Despite its lackluster performance, however, the Toyota Stout laid down the foundation for some of the most popular pickup trucks in the US today – the Hilux, Tundra, and America’s best-selling midsize truck, the Tacoma.

Industry experts and enthusiasts have high expectations for the recently-launched 2024 Toyota Tacoma, but recent competitor offerings may soon affect Toyota‘s position in the segment. With the launch of the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz, as well as the upcoming entry of the Chevrolet Montana and the Ram Rampage, compact pickup trucks are poised to siphon market share away from the midsize and full-size pickup truck classes.

Fortunately for Toyota fans, it seems that the Japanese automotive giant plans to revive the Stout to join the fray – and soon at that. Last 2022, Toyota registered the Stout name in Argentina. Furthermore, a few high-ranking executives of Toyota North America hinted at the company’s interest in the compact pickup truck class. If these juicy clues do lead to the Stout’s revival sometime in 2024 (for the 2025 model year), then hopeful compact pickup truck buyers have something amazing to look forward to. Here are 10 reasons why the 2025 Toyota Stout is worth waiting for.

10 The 2025 Toyota Stout Will Be A Part Of The TNGA Program

Similar to Toyota’s recently-redesigned models like the Sequoia, Tundra, Tacoma, and Lexus GX, the 2025 Toyota Stout will definitely join the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) program. According to Toyota, the TNGA philosophy is geared towards elevating both on-road and off-road performance using new vehicle frames and powertrains that can be shared across several models.

The Toyota Stout will likely employ the TNGA-K platform that currently underpins compact and midsize sedans and SUVs like the RAV4, Highlander, Camry, and Lexus RX. The TNGA-K platform uses a sturdy yet lightweight monocoque body that, in combination with new powertrains, will achieve a lower center of gravity, improved fuel efficiency, better handling, and a higher level of safety compared to Toyota’s older platforms.

9 The 2025 Toyota Stout May Use Toyota’s Award-Winning Design Concept

The 2025 Toyota Stout can adopt its exterior design from several of Toyota’s production or even concept vehicles, but one thing is for sure: Toyota’s vehicle design language has improved in leaps and bounds over the past few decades. Several creative artists explored a few possible designs through digital renders. As an example, SRK Designs used the 2023 RAV4 to illustrate a new compact pickup truck. Moreover, K Design based a Toyota Stout render on the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid. Finally, our very own HotCars artist Timothy Adry Emmanuel rendered the 2025 Toyota Stout using Toyota’s award-winning design for the Compact Cruiser EV Concept.

Toyota has yet to release teasers about the 2025 Toyota Stout’s design, so it’s very possible to see a few (or several) more digital interpretations in the coming months.

8 The 2025 Toyota Stout May Get A Turbo Powerplant That Will Outclass The Ford Maverick’s EcoBoost Engine

If the 2025 Toyota Stout indeed uses the TNGA-K platform, then it’s but natural for the Stout to adopt an engine or two from existing TNGA-K nameplates like the RAV4 or Highlander. For reference, the 2023 RAV4 derives 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque from its 2.5-liter Dynamic Force I-4 engine. Alternatively, the 2023 Highlander gets 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of twist from a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-4 mill.

Using the Highlander’s turbocharged engine, the 2025 Toyota Stout will leave the EcoBoost-powered Ford Maverick (250 hp, 277 lb-ft) in the dust. The Hyundai Santa Cruz’s bigger 2.5-liter turbo engine (281 hp, 311 lb-ft) may be slightly more powerful, but the Korean compact truck pays for the power with a lower fuel economy (22 MPG vs the heavier, turbocharged Highlander’s 25 MPG).

Gas Engine Comparison: Toyota Stout VS Ford Maverick VS Hyundai Santa Cruz

7 The 2025 Toyota Stout Hybrid May Be More Potent Yet More Thrifty Than The Ford Maverick Hybrid

The Ford Maverick’s base 2.5-liter hybrid engine (191 hp, 37 MPG combined fuel economy rating) became a strong selling point for the Blue Oval compact pickup truck. Toyota will not let the hybrid Maverick’s dominance stand for long, because the Japanese giant has been at the helm of modern hybrid engine technology for the past several decades, starting with the Toyota Prius.

The 2025 Toyota Stout may adopt the 2023 RAV4’s A25A-FXS hybrid system – a 2.5-liter gas engine working with two electric motors to produce a 219-hp system output while still achieving a 38-MPG fuel economy for the all-wheel-drive (AWD) RAV4 trims. This means that even with the AWD configuration, the RAV4 hybrid (3,710 lbs curb weight) still has better fuel economy than the lighter (3,636 lbs curb weight) Maverick hybrid that only has front-wheel-drive (FWD). Alternatively, the same Toyota A25A-FXS hybrid system can achieve a 243-hp output and a 35-MPG fuel economy rating when tuned more aggressively for the heavier 2023 Highlander Hybrid (4,595-lb curb weight).

Hybrid Engine Comparison: Toyota Stout Hybrid VS Ford Maverick Hybrid

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6 The 2025 Toyota Stout Will Get TNGA’s Modern Transmission Systems

The 2025 Toyota Stout will likely pair its gasoline and hybrid engines with TNGA’s new transmission systems. Currently, the 2023 RAV4 and Highlander both use the 8-speed Direct-Shift Electronically-Controlled Automatic Transmission (ECT) for gasoline models. Hybrid trims, on the other hand, use the Electronically-Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT).

With any luck, a TRD Sport trim may join the 2025 Toyota Stout lineup, and we may see TNGA’s 2nd-generation 6-speed Intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT2) in action. The iMT2 system provides automatic rev-matching and anti-stall features for smoother shifts and safer trail adventures.

5 The 2025 Toyota Stout Can Lead The Class In Payload And Towing Capacities

Compared to body-on-frame models, unibody pickup trucks generally have lower towing and hauling capacities. For instance, the 2023 Ford Maverick has a 1,500-lb payload capacity and a 4,000-lb tow rating. Moreover, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz can haul up to 1,748 lbs and tow up to 5,000 lbs.

Using the 2023 Toyota Highlander as a benchmark, the 2025 Toyota Stout can surpass the towing and hauling capabilities of its compact monocoque rivals. To illustrate, the 2023 Toyota Highlander, which has a 4,595-lb curb weight, can carry up to 1,715 lbs and tow up to 5,000 lbs. A 2025 Toyota Stout powered by the Highlander’s 2.4-liter turbo I-4 engine will likely weigh much less (roughly 3,700 lbs curb weight), so it has the potential to haul over 1,700 lbs and tow more than 5,000 lbs.

Payload And Towing Comparison: Toyota Stout VS Ford Maverick VS Hyundai Santa Cruz

4 The 2025 Toyota Stout Will Boast Toyota’s Most Advanced Tech And Safety Features

The 2025 Toyota Stout may receive the 2023 Highlander’s 8-inch or 12.3-inch infotainment system, assuming that Toyota doesn’t release an upgraded unit within the next year. The current Highlander’s infotainment systems come standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Toyota Stout buyers will probably have the option to upgrade to a JBL premium audio system. Additionally, the 2025 Stout will likely get a colored digital head-up display (HUD) and a 7-inch or 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that can be customized to display the driver’s preferred layout.

The 2025 Toyota Stout will also likely come with Toyota’s latest comfort, convenience, and safety features like Qi-compatible wireless phone charging, an optional digital rearview mirror, power-adjustable seats, and Toyota’s most advanced vehicle safety system, the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0).

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3 The 2025 Toyota Stout Will Wear Toyota’s Badge Of Quality And Reliability

According to Kelley Blue Book, reliability is the most important consideration in a car buyer’s decision. The new Toyota Stout stands to benefit from this fact because, for the past few decades, Toyota and Lexus have consistently achieved top marks in reliability assessments conducted by Consumer Reports and JD Power. The market’s initial confidence in the 2025 Stout’s reliability will help catapult the 2025 Toyota Stout into the compact pickup truck leaderboard immediately after its commercial launch. Of course, Toyota will still need to justify the Stout’s high predicted reliability ratings over the succeeding years.

2 A Used 2025 Toyota Stout Will Probably Get A High Residual Value

More often than not, Toyota vehicles have high resale values due to their proven quality and reliability and high market demand. A vehicle’s high resale value is crucial in improving customer loyalty, especially during periods of economic turmoil. The 2025 Toyota Stout will likely receive a high resale value score due to the nameplate’s pioneer status and Toyota’s reputation for reliability.

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1 The 2025 Toyota Stout Will Likely Be Priced Competitively

Last 2022, Hyundai USA sold 36,480 units of the Santa Cruz, thus giving the Korean compact truck a place among the 15 best-selling pickup trucks in the country. More impressively, 74,370 Mavericks rolled out of Ford dealerships during the same year, outselling even the veteran Ford Ranger (57,000 units). Even if we hold consumer perception, quality, reliability, resale value, and dealership experience scores equal between the two models, the Ford Maverick has one distinct advantage – a lower price.

The 2023 Ford Maverick has a starting price of $22,595, while the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz has a $25,700 base price tag. To gain class leadership, Toyota will likely give the 2025 Stout a starting sticker price of roughly $23,000.